Sheep returns for South
Canterbury, New Zealand in 1882

Warming
up - A newborn lamb with a
woolover cover is just like
putting on a jersey,
designed to stretch, remove
after the storm or by three
weeks, can be washed and
pass down to another new
born. Photo taken by farmer
J.W., Springbrook, 17 August 2011.

The modern 'Appendices' (AJHR),
annual reports of government department presented to Parliament, do not have the
vast amount of genealogical material which is in the 19th century version. The
'Return of sheepowners' appeared in the Appendices from about the
1878
to the 1920s. The sheepowners are listed alphabetically within their counties.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of
His Excellency.
Mr. B. P. Batly to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. Sib, Colonial Secretary's
Office (Stock Branch), Wellington, 6th June, 1884. I have the honour to lay
before you the annual sheep returns for the year ending 31st May, 1883. The
total number of sheep in the colony on that date was 13,306,329, the previous
year being 12,408,106, showing an increase of 898,223 in the twelve months. Of
this increase, Canterbury and Napier contribute over 542,000. I am able to
report that the returns this year show an increase of more than 42,000. The
classification of sheep can approximately be taken as follows: Merino, males,
3,250,733; females, 4,064,499. Long-wool, males, 432,322; females, 769,417.
Cross-bred, males, 1,837,502 females, 2,951,856. Total, males, 5,520,557;
females, 7,785,772 making a grand total of 13,306,329. The exports have amounted
to 250,154: of these, 2,382 were shipped alive; the balance, 247,772, being
shipped in a frozen state, Port Chalmers contributing 86,781; Lyttelton, 80,920;
Wellington, 46,803 Bluff, 16,297 Napier, 9,003 and Auckland, 7,968. The
boiling-down establishments have treated 54,873. For meat-preserving purposes
91,490 were used, chiefly in Napier and Canterbury. The imports have amounted to
1,020; Australia supplying 423; England, 357; Chatham Islands, 171; and Tasmania
69.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives,
1884 Session I, H-03

The South Canterbury counties Geraldine, Mackenzie and Waimate
are featured on pages 45, 46, 47. pdf (565k)

Oamaru Mail, 10 June 1893, Page 1
The Lincoln Stud flock was established in 1874, and this season it numbers 929,
that being the number of pure ewes put out to the ram. The first start was made
by the purchase from the late Mr T. Dodson, of some rams and ewes imported by
him, and since then rams and ewes have twice been imported from the flocks of
Messrs Kirkham and Dudding. These sheep, together with some ewes purchased from
Mr J. B. Sutton, Thornbury, and the late Mr Geo. Sutton, and all bred from
imported stock, formed the basis of the present flock, and by a careful system
the various strains have been kept separate, so as to avoid as much as possible
in-breeding to too great an extent. Stud rams from the flock of the Hon M.
Holmes, N.Z. and A. Land Co., and Messrs J. B. Sutton, F. Sutton, Thomas Tanner,
and the late Hy. Russell (H. Gaisford) have been used from time to time, the
rams from the two last-named flocks being imported Vesey bloods.

The Border Leicester flock was established in 1872 and now
numbers 612, which represents the number of pure ewes put to the ram this
season. The original ewes were purchased from the N.Z. find A. Land Company, and
a ram, to make them of the celebrated Marquis blood, was obtained from Messrs
Gillies and Street, who then had one of the finest flocks in the country. Since
then ewes from the celebrated flocks of Lord Polwarth, Mertoun and Mr Clark
Oldhamstocks have been imported from Scotland, the last- named lot being brought
out by Mr John Deans, Riccarton, and purchased from him here. Rams from Lord
Polwarth, Colonel Baillie Hamilton, and Messrs Clark Oldhamstocks- Jack of
Mersington and Miss Stark Mellendean —have been imported into the flock from
time to time and shed rams from the well-known colonial flocks of Hon. M.
Holmes. Little Bros. (Ngapara), and Mr Grey, of Southland, have been used
occasionally;

The Romney Marsh flock was established by the late Dr Webster, Balruddery,
Otago, about 22 years ago, and grew up under the fostering care of Mr James
Little, now of Waikari. Dr Webster's entire flock was purchased from his
executors in 1879, and at that time there were two distinct strains of rams of
two different importations in the flock. Since then two importations have been
made from Mr Rigdon, Kent, and these and their progeny have been crossed
throughout with the older strains. The breeding flock now numbers 1060, that
being the number of pure ewes put to the rams this season.

The Stock Breeder

Yours is the task to mate and to mould,
Living things for gain and pleasure;
To find and to fuse the purest gold;
Nature hoards as a hidden treasure.
Yours is the heritage handed down,
A trust without limit or measure;
To make, not to mar, to win renown;
Fail not in the brave endeavour.

Yours is the art and the work to blend,
living things in beauty together;
Yours is the power to ruin or mend -
The bonds that ye bind none can sever.
A sacred trust are these living things,
To be carelessly dealt with, NEVER!
And faithful stewardship surely brings
Rich reward that shall live for ever.